The very best from the world of smooth jazz and classic soul.

July 02, 2013

Patrick Yandall - Soul Grind

Smooth Jazz Therapy
has followed the career of guitarist Patrick Yandall since 2006 and the release
of his excellent CD ‘Samoa Soul’. In fact this San Diego resident has been a
solo artist since 1994 when he made his debut with ‘That Feels Nice’ and now, going on twenty years later, he is back
with his fifteenth album, the decidedly tasty ‘Soul Grind’. Produced and engineered by Yandall (who also
writes eleven of the fourteen (yes, fourteen) tracks) this is very much his own
project and a resounding showcase for his art.

Yandall’s music is typified by an
easy grooving San Diego vibe that is consistently to die for. In this respect the opening number, ‘My Lady’, is right up there while in
similar mood is the totally charming ‘Sir
Mango’ that is the sort of tune which originally got me (and thousands
others) into smooth jazz.

Despite a mellow introduction, ‘It’s Time’ quickly takes on something of
a Steely Dan attitude and, talking of Steely Dan, Patrick takes time out for a
sumptuous reimagining of the band’s ‘Josie’. One of only three covers it is in the good
company of a handsome take on the timeless ‘Human
Nature’ and an immaculate rendition of Larry Carlton’s ‘Room 335’ from his 1977 self-titled
debut. Yet, truth to tell, Yandall’s own
compositions have enough in the tank to hold their own against the best.

Take for example the simply
wonderful ‘Forever’ that simply oozes
sunshine or the intricately expansive ‘More
Than I Am’. Both explain why
Yandall’s music has been recently finding its way onto the soundtracks of
television shows and movies while elsewhere the shuffling beat of the mid tempo
title cut is another song packed full of appeal.

Yandall shifts mood and gets
funky for the rhythmic ‘Say Ow’. It’s sure to be a dance floor filler when he
next plays San Diego hotspot Humphries Backstage Lounge and much the same could
be said of the foot tapping, brass driven, ‘The
Don’. He keeps things fizzing with
the big band inclined ‘Bump This’ but
as the intensity eases Yandall delivers the hugely reflective ‘Lay Me Down’.

Yandall closes out the collection
with the atmospheric groove of ‘When
Robins Fly’ and with the release date quickly approaching it’s not too
early to book your place at the CD launch event that will take place at Spaghettini
in Seal Beach, CA on September 13.